Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer today sent a letter to the House Democratic Caucus urging Democratic Members to highlight the past 19 months of the Republican Majority’s record of missed opportunities in addressing the nation’s central challenges.

As Leader Pelosi and Whip Hoyer said in their letter, “They have not governed for the middle class, ignoring our main challenges of job creation and balanced deficit reduction. Instead, they have abandoned compromise in favor of partisanship. Again and again in this Congress, Republicans have wasted the House’s time considering political messaging bills that cater to the extreme wing of their party."

The leaders went on to state that: “Democrats are fighting for America’s middle class, but Republicans continue to put protecting the wealthy above finding compromise solutions that help all Americans succeed. In doing so, they are placing our nation’s fiscal health in danger, pursuing policies that will make it harder – not easier – for businesses to create jobs here in America, and jeopardizing the very role of Congress as a source of solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges.”

Below is the full text of the letter:

August 2, 2012

Dear Democratic Colleagues:

As we prepare to return home for the August district work period, we conclude 19 months under a Republican Majority that has failed to address the central challenges we face as a nation. They have not governed for the middle class, ignoring our main challenges of job creation and balanced deficit reduction. Instead, they have abandoned compromise in favor of partisanship. Again and again in this Congress, Republicans have wasted the House’s time considering political messaging bills that cater to the extreme wing of their party.

Now, Republican leaders are adjourning the House for the summer without a middle-class tax cut extension signed into law. Democrats and Republicans agree that middle class families shouldn’t see their tax rates go up next year. To that end, we proposed a tax cut for 100% of Americans on earnings under $200,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a couple, which would have achieved that goal. The Senate has passed that bill and the President has said he will sign it. Republicans chose to reject it, leaving millions of middle class Americans trapped in economic uncertainty.

In addition to Make It In America materials, your office has also received communications resources on the middle income tax cut debate for use during the work period activities. We strongly encourage you to utilize these materials at events throughout the month.

At the same time, the Senate has sent us a number of bipartisan bills on which the Republican House leadership refuses to act, including a five-year farm bill, postal reform, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and others. Meanwhile, Democrats have been blocked from having the House consider job-creating Make It In America legislation. Instead, House Republicans have wasted days and millions of dollars debating repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we have an opportunity to speak directly to our constituents and update them on the miserable record of this Republican Majority. When meeting with middle-class families and small business owners in your districts and listening to their concerns, it is important that we send a clear message about how Democrats are working to move America forward and how Republicans are responsible for prolonging the uncertainty they face when it comes to taxes, sequestration, our economic recovery, and jobs.

Democrats are fighting for America’s middle class, but Republicans continue to put protecting the wealthy above finding compromise solutions that help all Americans succeed. In doing so, they are placing our nation’s fiscal health in danger, pursuing policies that will make it harder – not easier – for businesses to create jobs here in America, and jeopardizing the very role of Congress as a source of solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges.

Together, our caucus will continue to stand up for the middle class, for the small businesses that support our communities, and for making the investments in our economy that will ensure our competitiveness and global leadership for years to come.